Production-ready 2020 Mahindra Thar SPIED ahead of launch

Mahindra has been working on the next-gen Thar SUV for quite some time now. Also, we have spotted test mules of new Thar several times on our roads. Mahindra has been extensively testing it on various terrains and recently pre-production models of the same were spotted along with the outgoing model. The Indian automaker is almost done with development of of the next-generation Mahindra Thar and is likely to launch the same later this year. We now have an image of a production ready 2020 Mahindra Thar, spied ahead of its launch.

Mahindra Thar is likely to look more butch and aggressive with all these updates in place. One thing that one would notice in the image is the size of the SUV. Mahindra Thar is based on a new platform which makes it wider and longer than before. The same platform will be used in the next-gen Scorpio SUV as well. The off roader in the image gets a new shade of red, and all black 5 spoke alloy wheels give it a sporty appeal.

The headlamps and the front grille retain the signature design as before. The bumper and the front fender along with the rear wheel arches look different from those on the older version. A new hood lock is also visible in the image. The 2020 Thar has been spotted testing with hard top several times but, this one in the spy image looks like a soft top version. Buyers of the top trims are likely to get the option of choosing between hard top and soft top whereas the buyers of the lower trims are likely to get only the soft top as standard.

On the inside, the new Mahindra Thar gets a brand new cabin. The dashboard will get a new design with touchscreen infotainment system, twin airbags, new instrument cluster, new steering wheel, redesigned seat layout and so on. As the new off roader will be longer and wider, it is likely to offer more space on the inside than before. Front facing rear seats are said to be a part of the equation.

Coming to the engine, the all-new Thar is expected to get a BS6 compliant 2.2 litre turbo diesel engine that generates 140 Bhp and 300 Nm peak torque. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a proper 4×4 transfer case. Along with diesel, Mahindra might launch a 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine from recently launched mStallion series with a automatic gearbox option. These engines are expected to be shared with the next-generation Scorpio, which is slated for a 2021 launch.